Process for isolation of ergot alkaloids from ergot

Abstract

Ergot alkaloids are isolated from ergot in high yields and purity by a process including extracting Claviceps purpurea , i.e., ergot, with a toluene/ethanol solvent mixture to obtain a primary extract. The primary extract can be further subjected to two steps of liquid-liquid extraction to purify the alkaloids resulting in a purified toluene extract. The toluene extract can be further partially evaporated and a crystalline product obtained by crystallization from the toluene or a mixture of toluene and an aliphatic hydrocarbon.

1 . A process of isolating an ergot alkaloid from ergot, the process comprising: extracting ergot with a mixture, comprising: toluene and ethanol to form a primary extract.  
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture, comprises: toluene and about 5-30% (v/v) of ethanol.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the mixture, comprises: toluene and about 10-20% (v/v) of ethanol.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the extracting is performed at a temperature of about 20-50° C.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the extracting is performed at a about ambient temperature.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the extracting is performed in a counter current way on a battery of percolators or on a continuous extractor.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising: extracting the primary extract with an aqueous solution of an acid to transfer the ergot alkaloid from the primary extract to an aqueous extract.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the aqueous solution of an acid is an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, comprises: about 30-60% (v/v) water, about 70-40% (v/v) ethanol, and about 0.05-1.0% (w/w) HCl.  
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, comprises: about 40-50% (v/v) water, about 60-50% (v/v) ethanol, and about 0.1-0.3% (w/w) HCl.  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 8 , further comprising: increasing the pH of the aqueous extract to above 7.0.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the increasing is performed by the addition of an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (w/w).  
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the increasing is performed by the addition of a 5% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (w/w).  
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising: extracting the aqueous extract having a pH above 7.0 with toluene to transfer the ergot alkaloid from the aqueous solution and obtain a purified toluene extract.  
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising: partially evaporating the solvent from the purified toluene extract to form crystalline ergot alkaloid.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising: separating the crystalline ergot alkaloid from the remaining toluene.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising: adding one or more C 5 -C 8  aliphatic hydrocarbons to the concentrate after partial evaporation of toluene to aid in crystallizing the ergot alkaloid.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more aliphatic C 5 -C 8  hydrocarbons are selected from hexane and heptane.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more aliphatic C 5 -C 8  hydrocarbons is hexane.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 17 , further comprising: separating the crystalline ergot alkaloid from the toluene/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixture.  
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 20 , comprising isolating the crystalline ergot alkaloid in greater than 90% purity.  
   
   
       22 . A process of isolating an ergot alkaloid from ergot, the process comprising: 
 a. extracting ergot with a mixture, comprising: toluene and ethanol to form a primary extract, wherein the mixture, comprises: toluene and about 5-30% (v/v) of ethanol;    b. extracting the primary extract with an aqueous solution of an acid to transfer the ergot alkaloid from the primary extract to an aqueous extract;    c. increasing the pH of the aqueous extract to above 7.0;    d. extracting the aqueous extract having a pH above 7.0 with toluene to transfer the ergot alkaloid from the aqueous solution and obtain a purified toluene extract;    e. partially evaporating the solvent from the purified toluene extract to form crystalline ergot alkaloid; and,    f. separating the crystalline ergot alkaloid from the remaining toluene.    
   
   
       23 . A process of isolating an ergot alkaloid from ergot, the process comprising: 
 a. extracting ergot with a mixture, comprising: toluene and ethanol to form a primary extract, wherein the mixture, comprises: toluene and about 5-30% (v/v) of ethanol;    b. extracting the primary extract with an aqueous solution of an acid to transfer the ergot alkaloid from the primary extract to an aqueous extract;    c. increasing the pH of the aqueous extract to above 7.0;    d. extracting the aqueous extract having a pH above 7.0 with toluene to transfer the ergot alkaloid from the aqueous solution and obtain a purified toluene extract;    e. partially evaporating the solvent from the purified toluene extract to form crystalline ergot alkaloid;    f. adding one or more C 5 -C 8  aliphatic hydrocarbons to the concentrate after partial evaporation of toluene to aid in crystallizing the ergot alkaloid; and,    g. separating the crystalline ergot alkaloid from the toluene/aliphatic hydrocarbon mixture.